Draft sigging



June 2, 1925.

E. W. KADEL DRAFT RIGGING Original Filed March 20, 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet lVIII/Ill III/[III I June 2, 1925.

B. W. KADEL DRAFT RIGGING Original Filed March 20. 1916 I5 Sheets-Sheet2 llllffil! June 2, 1925.

B. w. K AD EL DRAFT RIGGING Original Filed March 20,- 1916 5Sheets-Sheet Reissped June 2, 19251.

UNITED s'rai as PATENT oF-FIcE.-

BYERS W. KADEL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNO'R, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO THE SYMINGTON' COMPANY, A." CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

DRAFT RIGGIIiG.

Original No. 1,535,315, dated April 28, 1925 Serial No. 85,427, filei'lMarch 20, 1916. RenewedMarch 3,'

1925. Application for reissuefiled April 28, .1925. Serial No. 26,517.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYERS W. KAnEL,a citizen ofthe'United States ofAmerica, residing at'Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Draft Rigging, of which thefollowingis a specification.

The invention relates to the art of draft rigging for railway cars, andmore particu- .larly to that class of draft rigging designed forapplication to the under frame of freight cars, and consists inproviding in combination with an under frame, novel means toconnect,hold and suitably brace the cashioning mechanism so as to produce asimple,

strong, compact and reliable draft rigging.

To this end the main features of my 1nvention, generally stated, consistin providingstop mechanism forthe front follower of the cushioningmechanism, adapted to form a support, and means for attachment for thecoupler guide, the coupler carry iron and the coupler-limit stops, andto form in connection with the end sill braces stiffening members tosuitably brace the center sills against lateral spreading.

There are other features of the invention as will appear from a moredetailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, the scope of the invention being pointed outin the claims.

Throughout the specification and drawiugs like numerals designate likeparts,

Figure 1 is a top plan view partially in section of draft gear'devicesembodying the invention.

Figure 2' is a central longitudinal vertical section of the deviceillustrated in Figure 1, some of the movable parts being shown inelevation. Y 4

,Figure 3 is an end elevation of the stationary portions of the deviceshowing theirrelation to the car under frame.

Figures 4 and '5 are detail sections taken on line XX of Figure 1,lookingin the direction indicated by. the arrows designated 4- and 55,respectively.

Figure 6 is'a vertical cross-section on line (S-6 of Figure 1. a portionof the cushioning mechanism being omitted.

Figure 7 is a detail cross section on line I 7- 7 of Figure 5 showingone of the end sill braces.

" Figures 8 to "12, inclusive, are details Reference being had to theseveral illus- "trations and the reference numerals thereon, -1, 1indicate the center sills, 2 the cover plate extending from sill to sillover the draft mechanism, the end framing, 4 and 5 indicate the centeror end sill braces, adapted to rigidly connect the center sills to. theend framing-and 6 designates one of the braces'for the end framing.

' Connected to the inner face of each center sill and adjacent thelendthereof are the cheek plates generally designated the nu- ,meral 7, andsince these cheek-plates are counterparts a description of one thereofwill suffice, In Figures 8 to 12 of the drawings there is shown acheek-plate 7 which is preferably. provided with alongitudinallyextending slot or'opening 8, the outer edges thereof, forconvenience, being provided upper and lower portions thereof thecheekplate is provided with inwardly projecting stops or stop, shoulders10 and 11. The said stops are suitably spaced apart, so as to permit anarm of the coupler connecting means, hereinafter described, to passbetween the said stops. Each of the saidstops may, be suitably braced;the upper stop 10 being reinforced by the horizontal ribs 12, 12' and 13formed on the web 7' of the.

.60. in elevation and partly in vertical section' showing a slightlymodified construction of rear follower and cushioning mechanism.

plate 7, and by. the vertical web or flange 16.

Likewise, the lower stop 11 ispreferably reribs are preferably providedwith one or more vertical reinforcing -members such as shown at 18 and19. Asv will be seenfrom Figure 9, the web 7 may, intermediate the stopshoulders 10 and 11, be provided with a rearwardly extending portion .20to increase the strength of the plate adjacent the the maximum width ofthesaid portion is less than the space separating the upper and lowerstop members. The horizontal or longitudinally extending ribs 13 and 14,are, it will be noted, preferably extended to the forward end of thecheek plate 7 and ad jacent the end of the plate are widened out asshown at 21 and22 for purposes to be hereinafter described. The ribs 14and 15 [are reduced in width, as shown at 52, forflanges thereofoutwardly directed, and the wardly of the stop shoulder 11 for a purposeto be hereinafter disclosed. The center sills 1, 1 are preferablychannel-beams having the cheek-plate 7, in order to be securelyconnected to brace and stiffen-the same, is preferably provided with anoutwardly directed flange 23, adapted to underlie and to be secured tothe lower flange of the said sill. flange or web,24 is provided at thelower outer end of the cheek-plate 7, as shown.

Referring now to 'Fi ures 1 and 2, 25

v designates the coupler which may be slidably connected to the yoke 26by means of a key 27'which passes through alined-slots 28 and 29 in thecoupler and yoke, respectively, and through the slots 8 and 8" in thecheek-plates and sills, The rearwardly extending portion of the slot 28in the coupler is preferably reinforced by the outwardly extending wingsor flanges 28" and likewise there are v formed.on the inner or adjacentfaces of the yoke arms 26, and adjacent the outer'ends of the slots 29therein, reinforcing means or inclined shoulders 29", 29. extendingwings 28 on the" coupler in the normal position of the same, overlie therear, ends of the flanges 14 and 15; the reduced portion 52 of the saidflanges or ribs, hereinbefore described, is designed to permit thedownward removal of the coupler inde pendently of tlie yoke andcushioning mechanism. Inorder to remove the coupler the key 27 isremoved and the coupler is drawn forwardly until the wings 28 contactwith the projections 29 on the yoke, in which position the wings 28 onthe coupler will clear the reduced portion of the ribs or flanges 14 and15 on the opposed cheek castings 7, thereby permitting the coupler to bethe adjacent center sill and to A vertical The outwardly" droppedvertically. The cushioning mecha nism, which is of a well known type offrictional're sistance device, is generally designated by the numeral30,a nd since 1t forms no part of the invention except in combina tion,need not be further described except as to its coaction with the frontfollower which without interfering with the proper'seating.

of the same against the stop shoulders 10 and 11 by the interference ofthe edge of the follower with'the edge of the lug.

To compensate for the reduction in area of the yoke arms, due to theslots 29 therein, without increasing the size of the yoke-receivingopenings in the front follower, the

yoke arms are preferably increased in width from the front face of thesaid follower forwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2,'thewidened portions of the yoke arms thus extending rearwardly to, orpreferably somewhat inwardly of, the rear or inner ends of the slots 29.

The rear follower 34 is preferably provided with seats or shoulders,such as 35, adapted to contact witlrthe lower faces of the rear end ofthe yokeor coupler connecting means 26, to thereby form a support forthe same. The portion of the follower 34 above the projection 35 lieswholly between the planes of the yoke arms. The yoke 26 and the rearfollower 34 are held' from rearward movement by a centrally arrangedback stop 2 6 which normally contacts with formeans for alining the'rearend of the frictional device. 30 and the rear follower 34,

said means also serving to provide an increased wear'ing surface for thesaid follower. The pro ect ons, or pro ection, as

the case may be, are made slightly longer I than thepermissive travel ofthe coupler, and hence it will be evident that, even in case of thesticking of the frictional device, i. e., a failure to properly releasefrom a compressive strain, the follower'will always be maintained in avertical position and so located with reference to the frictional deviceor other cushioning mechanism, that all danger of the follower jammingor failing to maintain its proper relation is entirely elimi nated. s Qq The projections on the rear follower 34 support the yoke 26, and thefollower 34 is in turn slidably supportedby a plate 38 which is securedto the draft sills by means of the bolts: 39. The plate 38" preferablyezitends under the rear follower and under the rear end of thecushioning mechanism and serves to support both of these elements and topermit their sliding movement in pulling. In Figure 13 there is shown asimplified arrangement of the construction for supporting the cushioningmechanism and rear follower. In this figure, designates therear end ofthe cushioning mechanism,

34* the rear follower, 35" the projections on the rear follower whichare adapted to support the yoke 26, and 38 designates the supportingplate which slidably engages the rear follower and the cushioningmechanism.

As will be noted, the follower 34 is very much increased in thicknessover the follower 34, as shown in the preferred form, and-it istherefore unnecessary to provide alining means on the follower to holdthe same in its proper position.

The follower 34, referring to the preferred form, is preferably providedwith an inclined or bevelled portion 34 to enable the follower to beentered between the cushioning mechanism and the yoke after the otherparts of the cushioning mechanism have been assembled on thecar and thento be driven into place in order to produce the necessary or desiredinitial compression.

An H-shaped front follower, such as-is shown in Figure 4, cannot belifted directly into place, but must be entered at an angle to the armsof the yoke and then givena quarter turn into its normal position.

Hence in either assembling or disassembling a device such as isillustrated, it isnecessary that the cushioning mechanism be removedfrom the yoke in order to disengage the H shaped follower from betweenthe arms thereof. As will be noted, the front follOlWCI 31 is providedwith a boss or lug which enters a suitable aperture 51 in thecooperating face of the cushioning mechanism to thereby hold the severalparts in alinement. It is therefore necessary to provide arear follower,such as 34, which may be re- -moved vertically down-ward in order toprovide sufficient clearance when the same is removed, to permit thecushioning mechanism to be moved rearwardly sufficiently to clear theprojection 50 so that-the same may be taken down, after which thefollower 31 can be rotated sufliciently to disengage the projectionsthereof from the yoke arms.

The numeral 37 designates the front tieplate or supporting plate'whichholds some of the moving parts of the device in'their connected to thelower flanges of the center sills 1, 1 by the bolts 39 The coupler guide41 whichpreferably consists of a piece of comparath-"ely lightsheet-metal having vertical offsets 41, 41 therein is connected by meansof the rivets 40 to the ribs 21 of the cheek plate 7-. The principalfunction and purpose ofthis plate is to prevent the coupler from rising.It also acts as a coupler stop, but it is also made light enough to giveway under a heavy blow in order to save the coupler head from damageshould the coupler be forced rearwardly under an abnormal buflingstrain. The offsets 41, in addition to forming spaces to accommodate thelower heads of the rivets 40, serve to give some flexibility to thisguide transversely of the car so that it will not act as a tie memberbetween the cheek plates but will readily give under strains produced bya lateral movement of is preferably formed asan angle bar having oneflange 43 placed horizontally and adapted to rest adjacent to its endsonthe ribs or flanges 23, 23, the said flange 43 being preferably of alength to allow its insertion between the inner faces of the webs 7 ofthe check plates. The flange 43 is provided at each end .with anupwardly projecting portion 44 which, for example, may be preferablyformed by cutting and bending the outer ends of the flange 43 upwardlyand at right angles to said flange. The upwardlv projecting members 44,44 are adapted tb serve as coupler limitstops, and to prevent thecoupler from contacting with-and wearmg against the cheek plates. Thevertical flange 45 of the member 42 is connected adacent the endsthereof'to the vertical flanges v 24, 24 of the cheek plates 7 by meansof bolts 46 passed through alined openings in the flange 45 and theflanges 24. These bolts 46 are, due to the engagement of the ends o'l'the member 42 with the flanges 23, cntircl} relieved from all shearingstrain and are only required to hold the carry-iron from forwardmovement.

The brace members 4 and 5, licrcinbel'orc referred to, are adapted to beconnected 'to the center sills in any approved manner in the plane ofthe end framing 3, and to be connected thereto by any suitable means,as, for example, by the use of the rivets 47. The. vertical webs 4" ofthese braces, at the points where they would intersect the slotsThelower ribs 22, 22 of the 8 in the sill, are preferably provided withcurved portions 48 which extend around the ends of the slots so as topermit the key 27 to have full play in the slot 8. In connection withthe sill brace 5, it is preferred to provide a pipe clamp, as forexample, a headless U-bolt 49, to-receive the air-brake pipe. This formof pipe-holding means provides both an economical and convenient meansfor connecting the brake-pipe to the car end in full accordance with theMaster Car Builders requirements governing the interchange of cars,which are in this regard'that the end of the air-pipe must be located inthe horizontal plane bisecting the coupler and thirteen inches off thecenter line of the car. The rivets which secure the braces 4 and 5 tothe sills also pass through and connect the cheek plates thereto.

I There are' many. advantages inherent in the invention hereinbeforedescribed as will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which thesame appertains, and it will not, it is believed, be out of place topoint out some thereof in greater detail.

In assembling and removing draft ,mechanisms from car under frames, andparticularly those mechanisms in which a hori'- zontal yoke is applied,it is-often necessary to remove coupler and yoke and owing to thelateral projection on these members shown clearly in Figure 1 adjacentthe opposite edges of the key 27, it has heretofore been necessary toeither spring apart the arms of the yoke so as to permit the removal -ofthe coupler, or to remove the coupler limit stops to enable the yoke anddrawbar to be taken out together. Limit stops of the kind heretoforeused are connected to the car sills, generally by riveting, so that itbecomes necessary, when it is desired to remove the yoke, to cut therivets holding the stops in place since, as will also be observed fromthe drawings, these stops normally prevent the removal of the yoke. Itwill, therefore, be apparent, that by the use of a combined carry-ironand coupler limit stop device, such as is disclosed herein, it ispossible, by the simple removal of four bolts, to take out the couplerand yoke, after the cushioning mechanism is removed. This easyremovability greatly reduces the cost of labor on such replacements. V

Having now described my invention in detail, although it is to beunderstood that the foregoing description and drawings are merelyillustrative of one embodiment of my device, and that-the terms used inthis specification are to be taken in their descriptive and not theirlimitingsense, since what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a draft rigging and in combination with'the coupler, ahorizontally disposed yoke, and cushioning mechanism therefor,

of a follower, means for supportingthe same, a projection on saidfollower, adapted to contact with said supporting. means, saidprojection serving as means for alining the cushioning mechanism and thefollower, and means on said follower for supporting the yoke. j i

2. In a draft rigging and in combination with a horizontally disposedyoke, of a follower having lateral projections thereon to support theyoke, the portion of the follower above the said projection being whollyincluded between the planes of the yoke arms.

3. In a draft rigging and in combination with a horizontally disposedyoke, a cushioning mechanism within the same, of a follower havingintermediate its ends means to support the yoke, said follower alsobeing provided with a projection adapted to underlie and form aliningmeans for the cushioning mechanism.

4:. 'Ina draft rigging and in combinationwith the coupler, ahorizontally disposed yoke and cushioning mechanism, of a fol lower,said follower having a projecting.

the yoke and cushioning mechanism.

6. In a draft rigging, draft sills, a coup-' ler, a horizontallydisposed yoke, a cushioning mechanism within the same, a removable carryiron, means formed on the carryiron and "adapted to extend into theplane. of the arms of the said yoke, said means serving as stops tolimit the swing of the coupler and being removable with the carry11'01'1. v i

7. In a draft. rigging, a coupler, a yoke connected thereto, an endframing, a pair of flanged draft sills having their webs vertical, cheekplates respectively connected to the webs of the said sills at theirupper portions, said plates extending below the said'sills and providedeach with portions adapted to respectively project under and beconnected to aflange of the correspond-- ing sill, each of said platesbeing adapted at one end to extend forwardly beyond the end framing andprovided at the opposite end with a pair of spaced stop shouldersbetween which the yoke is adapted to pass.

8. In a draft rigging and in combination with the draft sills, acoupler, a yoke and cushioning mechanism, of a pair of cheek platesconnected to said sills, each of said plates being provided with aninwardly extending flange adjacent its forward end, said flanges servingasasupport for the coupler carry iron, and a carry iron resting uponsaid flanges of the check plates.

9. In draft rigging, the combination with center sills, of check platesconnectedto the inner faces of said sills, each of said check plateshaving an outwardly projecting follower engaging shoulder,longitudinally extending ribs formed on each cheek plate for bracingsaid shoulder, and a coupler guide plate extending between said cheekplates and above the coupler and connecting correspoi'iding ribs, ofsaid check plates.

10. In a draft rigging for railway cars, the coi'nbination with centersills, of check plates connected to the inner faces of said sills, theforward portions of said cheek plates extending beyond the end framingof. the car and being providedwith longitudinally extending ribs, and acoupler {IllltlG plate connecting said ribs at a point beyond the-endframing of the car.

11. In a draft rigging and in combinationivith the coupler andcushioning mechanism, of cheekplates, a carry iron secured to said checkplates and adapted to support the for wvard end of said coupler, saidcarry iron j having portions thereof adapted to extend upwardly betweenthe sides of the coupler and the adjacent portions of the said cheekplates and to contact the latter, said por tions serving as stops tolimit the swing of the coupler. p

12. In a draft rigging, the'combination with spaced center sills, ofcheek plates connected thereto, said check plates each b eing providedwith an inwardly projecting, flange, acar. coupler positioned betweensaid sills, and a removable carry'iron bridging the space between saidsills, said carry iron being adapted to overlie the flanges of saidcheck plates and being furnished with upwardly projecting coupler limitstops which are attached to and removable with said carry iron, saidstops, when said carry iron is in place, serving as meansfor decreasingthe effective width of,t he space between saidsills.

13. In a draft rigging, the combination with a coupler and itscushioning mechanism includin ah'orizontally-disposedyoke,

of a car framing 'having'therein an opening adapted to receive the shankof the car coupler, said opening being-closed below by a.

detachable, carry iron which is ad apted to support the coupler, s'aid.carry iron having portions which overlap the sides of the shank of thecoupler and projectinginto the planes of the said yoke arms, saidprojections serving as ,limit stops for the coupler, and the effectivewidth of the said coupler opening in the car framing being adapted to beincreased by the detachment-ofsaid carry projecting between saidsills-toward the center of the car for limiting lateral movement of.

the'said coupler, said-projecting means also expending into the path ofremoval of said yo te.

15. In a draft rigging, and with slotted draft sills, slotted cheekplates, of a coupler, a horizontally arranged yoke, a key connecting thecoupler and yoke, said key being. adapted to pass through theslots inthe sills and cheek plates, braces connected to said sills, each ofsaid'braces' being provided with a rounded portion adjacent the slot inthe corresponding sill, the ends of the said key-being adapted to extendinto said rounded portions of the said braces.

16. In a draft rigging,""and in combination with slotted draft sills, ofcheek plates connected to ,the inner faces thereof, each of said platesbeing provided with a slot. registering with the slot-in the adjacentsill, a coupler. a yoke, a key connecting the 0011 pler and'yoke, saidkey passing through the said slots in the cheek plates and sills, a

adjacent the slot therein, said braces and the cheek plates cooperatingto stiffen the draft sills, each of said braces being provided witha'recess adapted to extend'eround the end of the slot- -in theadj'acentmill, to thereby prevent the said key from contacting with thesaid braces.

17 In a draftirigging, the combination of brace connected to the outerface of each sillin'combination a coupler, cushioning mechanismconnected thereto by means of a horizontally disposed key, slotted draftsills, said key passing through the slots in said sills. and a braceconnected to the outer face-jot eaohisillfa portion of the web of-eachbrace. extending rearwardly beyond the forward end of the slot in theadjacent sills.

18. In. adraft rigging, the combination with the coupler a horizontallydisposed "izo yoke, and ,"ushioning' mechanism, of a-'foI--.

lower, projections on said followeradapted to support the said yoke, andtransversely extending means assing undc'r and slida'bl y engaging thesai follower and'servlng to support the cushioning mechanism.

19.. In a draft riggmg,'jthe comb nation *with the coupler, ahorizontally dislposedj o yoke and-cushioning means, of a; in wet.

disposed between the said cushioning means and the said yoke,projections on said follower adapted to support the said yoke, andtransversely extending means extending under the said follower and thecushioning means and constituting a support for the same.

20. In a draft rigging, the combination with the coupler, a horizontallydisposed yoke, and cushioning mechanism therefor, of a pair offollowers, one disposed at each end of the said cushioning mechanism,one of said followers and the cushioning mechanism having interengagingmeans, said follower being also provided with projections overlying theyoke arms, the other of the said followers being removable independentlyof the said cushioning mechanism to ithereby permit the said cushioningmechanism and interengaging followers to be shifted out of engagementand independent- 1y removed.

, 21. In a draft rigging, the combination with the draft sills, acoupler, yoke and ,cushioning mechanism, of a pair of cheek platesconnected to the said sills, said cheek plates having transversevertical flanges at their ends, an angle bar carry iron bridging thespace between the cheek plates, and se curing means for said carry ironcomprising bolts which pass through the vertical leg of the angle barand the said vertical flanges of the cheek plates, the horizontal si eof thecoupler.

-22. In a draft rigging, a pair of draft sills, cheek plates connectedto the said sills and. each provided with an inwardly pro- 'jectingflange, and a coupler guide plate extending from cheek plate to cheekplate and secured to the flanges-thereof, the said coupler guide havinga vertical offset thereand cushioning mechanism, of a removable with the.carframing, a coupler, a yoke,

member adapted to underlie the forward end of the said coupler, saidmember having portions thereof extending upwardly between the sides ofthe couplerand stationary parts of the car framing and adapted tocontact the latter,-said portions serving as stops to limit the swing ofthe conpier and being adapted to prevent the removal of the yoke whensaid member is in place.

check plates extending adjacent the said 1e of the angle bar beingadjacent the lower 23. In adraft" rigging, the combination said cheekplates having horizontal ribs' which underlie the said portions of thesaid coupler, a horizontally disposed yoke hav ing the arms thereofdisposed along each side of the coupler and having inwardly turnedenlargements which extend into the plane of the end portions of thecoupler, a key connecting the said coupler and yoke, the said ribs onthe cheek plates being cut away to provide an opening therebetween topermit dropping the coupler when the said key has been removed and thecoupler drawn forwardly out. of its normal position.

26. In a draftrigging, a car, a pair of slotted draft sills, slottedstop. castings sethe arms of the said yoke being enlarged adjacent thesaid slots therein and the said enlargements extending rearwardly of theslots in the yoke arms.

27. In a draft rigging, the combination with the draft sills and ahorizontally arranged yoke, of check plates connected to the said sills,said cheek plates each being 'provided'with horizontally extendingportionsabove and below the yoke arms, said portions serving to guidethe forward portions of the yoke, a carry iron bridging the spacebetween the sills and provided with portions which extend upwardlybetween the sillsinto the path of movement of the yoke, and a downwardlyremovable supporting member for the rear end of the yoke, said yokebeing removable "horizontally from between the sills after the removalof the earryiron and the rear supportingmember.

28. In a draft rigging, the combination with draft sills, of cheekplates connected thereto, a coupler, a horizontally disposed yoke, and acushioning mechanism within the same, a removable member bridging thespace between the sills and connected to the said cheek plates, andmeans rigidly connected to the said member, said means serving asstopsto limit the swing of the coupler and being removable with the saidmember.

29. .In a draft rigging, the combination 30. In a draft rigging, thecombinationwith a pair' of draft sills, of cheek plates connected to theinner faces of the said sills adjacent the ends thereof, said plateshaving projecting portions below the upper edges thereof, and a plateextending above the coupler and connected to the said projectingportions of said check plates, said connecting'plate serving as acoupler guide.

31. In a draft rigging, the combination with center sills, of acushioning mechanism positioned between the sills, said cushioningmechanism including a follower, a yoke surrounding said cushioningmechanism, front stop members adapted to transmit draft strains only,rear stops spaced from saidv front stop members and adapted to transmitbufiing strains only, said front stop members being normally engaged bysaid follower and terminating substantially in the plane thereof, theforward face of said f0l.

lower extending forwardly of the rear end of said front stop members.

In a draft rigging, the combination with a horizontally disposed yokemember and a cushioning mechanism therein, of a rear follower removableindependently of said yokeand cushioning mechanism, said followercomprising a plurality of spaced walls, ribs extending between saidwalls, one wall of said follower having a flat face to engage acushioning element, the other wall being curved at its edges to fitwithin the radii of the yoke.

33. In a draft'rigging, the combination with a horizontally disposedyoke, a cushioning mechanismtherein, of a follower removable indeendently of said. yoke and cushioning mec ianism, said followercomprising a plurality of spaced substantially rectangular walls, and aplurality of series of ribs for connecting the same, one of said seriesextending in an angular direction to another series, said follower wallsbeing substantially equalin area.

'34. In a draft rigging, draft sills, a coupler, a horizontally disposedyoke, a

cushioning mechanism within the same, a

removable coupler carry iron, means formed on the carry iron andextending into the plane of the arms of the said yoke,said means servingas stops to limit. the swing of the coupler and being removable with thecarry iron, a follower within the yoke and abuttingthe cushioningmechanism and being removable independently of the cushioning mechanism,the cushioning mecha-j nism being removable only after the removal ofsaid follower, and the yoke being removable only after the removal ofthe cushioning mechanism and the carry iron.

35. In a draft rigging, the combination with a slotted coupler, of aslotted yoke. means for connecting said yoke and coupler, said meanscomprising a key extending through said coupler and yoke, the walls ofthe said slots in the said coupler and yoke being arranged so as totransmit draft forces to said key as a direct compression.

36. In a draft rigging, the combination with a coupler, of ahorizontally disposed yoke and a transversely extending connecting key,said yoke and coupler having laterally projecting portions which areadapted to overlapp-ingly engage oppositely disposed portions of saidkey.

37. In a draft rigging, the combination 7 with a coupler having atransversely extending key slot therein, of a horizontally disposed yokehaving key receiving slots in the arms thereof, portions of the coupleradjacent the said slot being tapered outwardly and rearwardly to form anextended key bearing at, the rear end of the slot, the said yoke armsbeing provided with inwardly projecting portions adjacent the forwardedges of the slots therein, and a transversely extending key forconnecting said coupler and yoke, portions of said key being incompression under draft strains,

38. In a draft rigging, the combination with draft sills, of checkplates connected to the inner faces thereof, a coupler having a key slottherein, the rear wall of said key slot being outwardly extended bymeans of projections on the said coupler,a yoke with which said coupleris connected by means of a transversely extending key, said yoke beingprovided adjacent the front ends of the key slots with laterallyextending portions, said key being adapted to extend through the couplerand yoke and through slots in said check plates, and means forpreventing the yoke from, moving longitudinally of the said key.

39. In a draft rigging, the combination with a. ,pair of slotted draftsil s, of slotted to the inner faces of the sills adjacent the endsthereof, said members each being provided with a; key receiving slot,said memhers having up right stop; faces positioned slots, portions' ofsaid members adjacent the f slots.

ends thereof, said members each being proa portion of the depth in rearof the-inner ends of said slots, a follower member normally adapted toengage said stop faces, portions of said first named members beingadapted to extend rearwardly of said upright faces to rein-force theslots said reinforcing portions being of less height than the followermember.

41. In a draft rigging, the combination with spaced sills, of stopmembers connected to the inner faces of the sills adjacent the endsthereof, said members each being prov'ided with ,a key receivingslotiand having upright stop faces positioned in rear of the inner endsof said slots, portions of said members adjacentthe' rear, ends of saidslots being curved and extended rearwardly' of saidupright faces toreinforce the slots.

42' In. a draft rigging, the combination with spaced sills, of a stopmembers connected to the inner faces'of the sills adjacent the videdwith a key receiving slot with curved ends and having upright stop facespositioned in the rear of the inner ends of said rear ends of said slotsbeing curved c0-aXi ally with the curved ends of the slots and extendedrearwardly of the stop faces to re inforce the stop membersto the. rearof "the 43. In a draft rigging, the combination with spaced *sills, ofstop members connected to the inner faces of the sills adjacent the endsthereof, said members each being provided-with a key receiving. slot andhaving upright stop faces positioned in the rear of the inner ends ofsaid slots, portions of said members formingthe rear walls of the stopmembers adjacent the slots being extended rearwardly of the upright stopfaces along thereof and means'at I the forward ends 1 of the members forcon necting them to a striking member.

44:.In a draft rigging, the combination with spaced sills, of stopmembers connected to the inner faces of the'sills, said members eachbeing provided with a key receiving slot and having substantiallyvertical stop faces positioned in the rear of the inner ends of saidslots, portions of said-members forming the rear walls .of the stopmembers adjacent the slots'bein'g extended rearwardly.

of the up-rightstop faces along a'portion of the depth thereof, portionsof the' stop membersextending forwardly,and1 means connec ting a couplerguiding portion to said forwardly extending portions.

45. A stop and cheek plate railway draft rigging comprising alongitudinal portion adapted for connection with a car sill, saidportion being provided witha longitudinally disposed slot therein forthe reception (if a draft rigging key, and an upright stop 'faceadjacent the rear end of said; slot, said slot being formed by a flangeadapted for cooperation with "a corresponding aperture in anadjacentsill, portions. of

said member adjacent the; flange at the rear of the slot being extendedbeyond the stop face to reinforce the slot. v

' &6. A stop lug having aweb portion, said lug being adapted tobesecured to the inner face of a; draft or center sill and provided with afollower engagin portion, said'lu'g bein provided with a ST war meansfor reinforcing the marginal edges of' the slotted portion, said meansbeingadapted to extend throngh a suitably formed slot in an adjacentsill,'a portion of sald lug being extended'rear'w'ardly of saidslot into1 the vertical plane ofi'said follower engaging portion and beingof leswidth than said stop lug. p

' BYERS W.'KADEL;

member for otted portion for- 1y of said follower engagingv portion,

